Abiquo 3.10 adds VM automation and scheduling with Action Plans

Automate and schedule VM actions, configure with cloud-init and get additional template controls with Abiquo 3.10

 

Abiquo launches the latest version of its cloud management platform – Abiquo 3.10.

Version 3.10 of the Abiquo hybrid cloud solution introduces new major features:

  • Virtual Machine action plans and task schedules
  • Restrictions on which tenant can use each template
  • Enhanced resource pricing models with reseller support
  • First boot configuration using cloud-init or scripting
  • Enhanced public cloud support for Azure ARM, OpenStack and more

Virtual machine action plans and task schedules

Virtual machine action plans and task schedules in Abiquo 3.10 enable users to create a series of virtual machine tasks and save it as an action plan, then schedule that plan to run at a defined time or on a schedule. For example, if a high load on a web application is expected during a TV campaign, or an additional resource is always required on a BI server at month end, create a schedule to ensure that resource is there when it’s needed.

To get started, users simply need to create the virtual machine and its associated configuration (such as network interfaces, firewall and loadbalancer policies). Then they can easily add a sequence of tasks that range from basic lifecycle tasks (such as deploy, power on), to reconfiguration (such as add or remove CPU and RAM), to cloning virtual machine disks to create a new template or backup (Abiquo VM instance). Users can then schedule when the action plan tasks will run with a basic interval scheduler or an easy-to-use advanced scheduler based on the universal UNIX Cron utility. And it’s really as simple as that. Actions plans will also form the backbone of our upcoming auto-scaling functionality.
Virtual machine template controls

From Abiquo 3.8.5, in private cloud datacenters, administrators can add constraints to a virtual machine template to set minimum and maximum values for CPU and RAM for virtual machines created from the template. This ensures that VMs with OSes or applications that are sensitive to the VM configuraton can be guaranteed the resources they need, or created as fixed configurations similar to hardware profiles in public cloud.

Abiquo 3.10 also increases support for managed applications and per-tenant customizations with new scopes for virtual machine templates, providing fine-grained access control. To allow one or more tenants to access a template, the administrator simply creates scopes that include the tenants and assigns them to the template. Now only users who belong to the tenants listed in the scopes can access that template. This is consistent with the way access to Virtual Appliance Specs are controlled.

 

Enhanced pricing module

Also enhanced in version 3.10, the Abiquo pricing model now enables resource pricing per datacenter and public cloud region. And with the complementary additions to Abiquo accounting and billing, Abiquo customers will be able to automatically bill cloud tenants based on the resources and specifications of each datacenter and public cloud location. Moreover, Abiquo has added new elements to pricing models, such as separate pricing for CPU and RAM for VMs that are ON or OFF, firewalls, and load balancers. The previous “deployed resource” model is retained too.

Another improvement to the pricing feature is the support for reseller pricing models. Abiquo 3.10 automatically restricts access to pricing models to users with exactly the same tenant access level (enterprise scope), but also allows pricing users to view the pricing model assigned to their own enterprise. The key for resellers is that platform owners can assign them a pricing model (cost prices) and the resellers can use that as the base pricing model to mark up for their customers.

 

Automate first boot configuration

To go beyond scheduling new VM deployment, Abiquo 3.10 also provides automatic first boot configuration with Configuration drive with initial support for ESXi. Working with templates that support cloud-init or cloudbase-init (for Windows), users can enter configuration data and Abiquo will create a standard Configuration drive. When the virtual machine starts up for the first time, cloud-init or any similar system can make use of the user data.

 

Enhancements to public cloud support

And as always, Abiquo continues to develop our true hybrid cloud platform with the introduction of the new Azure Compute-ARM integration to support the Azure CSP program and the addition of OpenStack Neutron software-defined networking with firewalls and load balancers in the OpenStack integration, as well as improved public cloud region synchronization.

Notes to editors:
Please contact Abiquo on +44 (0) 203 1510900 / marketing@abiquo.com

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